Method of quick freezing



April 25, 1933.

F. H. PATTERSON 1,905,602

METHOD OF QUICK FREEZING Filed Aug. 31.. 1931 .ZUZPaZZemWm I Patent ed Apr. 25, 1933 PATENT OFFICE FRANK HOWARD PATTERSON, OF FREDONIA, KANSAS METHOD OF QUICK FREEZING Application filed August 31, 1931. Serial No. 560,480.

This invention relates to a method of quickly changing the temperature of an art1- cle of food or the like and has been found especially advantageous in the preservation of meats and other foods byquick freezlng.

In following a quick freezing method it is essential that all portions of the surfaces of the article under treatment be subjected simultaneously to the same low temperature.

In many instances, however, the object is of such irregular shape that such action has been practically impossible.

It is an object of the present inventlon to provide a method by means of which dressed poultry, uncut meats, etc., of very lrregular shapes can be preserved by quick freezing through the subjection of all portions of the outer surfaces thereof simultaneously to the same low temperature by direct conduction N from the freezing coils to the articles being treated. q

With the foregoing and other ob ects in View which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in certain novel steps of the method hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing one step of the method has been illustrated.

The figure of the drawing is a section through a holder containing an article packed in accordance with the present invention and subjected to freezing action.

In carrying out the method there is pro- 35 vided a container 1 of aluminum, copper, or

any other material having the property of.

quickly conducting cold. The article to be subjected to quick freezin and indicated at A is placed in the container, that surface 0, which is most nearly flat being placed on the bottom of the container. All of the spaces over and around the article are then completely filled with small bodies 2 of material such as aluminum, copper, or the like, capable 5 of quickly conducting heat and cold. These bodies can consist of balls, disks, etc. There after a cover 3 having the same properties as the container, is forced down on the container and its contents, causing the contents to be packed tightly and effecting a direct means of conduction between the packed article, A, and the surfaces of the container and cover. Thus when the packed container is inserted between and in contact with the freezing elements, which can be coils 4 0r other efficient means, the temperature of the article will be.quickly lowered because of the rapid and equal conduction to all portions of said article from the freezing elements.

What is claimed is: I

1. The method of quick freezing which includes the steps of packing the article in a container with a comminuted material which will not cohere when subjected to quick freezing temperatures, said material and the container having a high coefiicient of thermal conductivity, and then freezing the article by placing the container in contact with a freezing medium.

2. The" method of quick freezing which m includes the steps of packing the article under treatment in a mass of comminuted material which will not cohere when subjected to quick freezing temperatures, said material having a high coeflicient of thermal conductivity and then freezing the article by placing the mass of material in direct contact with a freezing element.

3. The method ofquick freezing an article 8 of irregular contour which includes the steps of filling a container with said article and a comminuted incoherent bulk material, said container and bulk having the property of quickly conducting thermal units, and then subjecting the container and its contents to the action of a freezing element to freeze said article without caking the comminuted material.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

FRANK HOWARD PATTERSON. 

